{{Short description|Indian economist}} {{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}} '''Mihir Shah''' is an Indian economist and former member of the erstwhile Planning Commission of India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://planningcommission.gov.in/index_oldpc.php|title=Welcome to Homepage of Planning Commission|work=planningcommission.gov.in|access-date=30 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626070935/http://planningcommission.gov.in/index_oldpc.php|archive-date=26 June 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewconstructs.com/story_details.php?sid=Mjc2&pageid=Mw==|title=India's Water problem - Dr. Mihir Shah's solution|work=Thenewconstructs.com|accessdate=2016-01-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075857/http://www.thenewconstructs.com/story_details.php?sid=Mjc2&pageid=Mw==|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Education== Mihir Shah graduated with a B.A. degree in economics in 1976 from St. Stephen's College, Delhi. In 1978, he received an M.A. degree in economics from Delhi School of Economics. He also received a PhD degree in economics from Centre for Development Studies (affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru University), Trivandrum in 1984.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cds.edu/alumni/alumni-management/|title=Centre For Development Studies|work=cds.edu|accessdate=2016-01-12|archive-date=25 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425061353/http://www.cds.edu/alumni/alumni-management/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Career== From 2009 to 2014, Shah was member, Planning Commission, Government of India, holding the portfolios of Water Resources, Rural Development and Decentralised Governance. He is the youngest-ever member of the Planning Commission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/more-flexibility-for-states-mihir-shah-389002.html|title=More flexibility for states: Mihir Shah|work=IBNLive|accessdate=2016-01-12}}</ref> Shah was chiefly responsible for drafting the paradigm shift in the management of water resources enunciated in the 12th Five Year Plan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiawaterportal.org/sites/indiawaterportal.org/files/water-_towards_a_paradigm_shift_in_the_twelfth_plan_dr_mihir_shah_planning_commission.pdf |title=Water : Towards a Paradigm Shift in the Twelfth Plan |website=Indiawaterportal.org |accessdate=2016-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/this-time-round/article5167834.ece|title=This time round|last=Shivakumar|first=Girija|work=The Hindu|date=26 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-02-21/india-may-spend-1-billion-to-map-aquifers|title=India May Spend $1 Billion to Map Aquifers, Avert Water Crisis|last=Chaudhary|first=Archana|date=21 February 2012|work=Bloomberg.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mydigitalfc.com/opinion/12th-plan-see-holistic-irrigation-strategy-place-721|title=12th Plan to see holistic irrigation strategy in place|work=mydigitalfc.com}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> As chairman of the Government of India's Committee for Revision of MGNREGA Guidelines, he initiated a makeover of MGNREGA, the largest employment programme in human history, with a renewed emphasis on rural livelihoods based on construction of productive assets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nrega.nic.in/circular/Report_Committee_Revision_guidelines.pdf |title=Report of the Committee for Revision of MGNREGA Operational Guidelines |website=Nrega.nic.in |accessdate=2016-01-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234310/http://nrega.nic.in/circular/Report_Committee_Revision_guidelines.pdf |archivedate=3 March 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiawaterportal.org/articles/mihir-shah-committee-proposes-new-guidelines-mgnrega-some-highlights|title=Mihir Shah Committee proposes new guidelines on MGNREGA: Some highlights|work=indiawaterportal.org|date=21 June 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/q-a-mihir-shah-planning-commission-111100900029_1.html|title=Q&A: Mihir Shah, Planning Commission|last=Menon|first=Sreelatha|date=9 October 2011|work=business-standard.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.im4change.org/news-alert/mihir-shah-unveils-a-bold-nrega-2-13410.html|title=MIHIR SHAH UNVEILS A BOLD NREGA-2|work=Im4change}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/centre-launches-mgnrega-20|title=Centre launches MNREGA 2.0|work=downtoearth.org.in|accessdate=2016-01-12}}</ref>
An expert on water and rural development, he holds memberships in several important committees such as the International Steering Committee of the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wle.cgiar.org/|title=Water, Land and Ecosystems|work=cgiar.org}}</ref> and serves as the chair of the Revitalising Rainfed Areas Network in India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rainfedindia.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=featured&Itemid=101|title=RRA Network|work=rainfedindia.org|accessdate=2016-01-12}}</ref> He is also the first president of the Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation, which supports innovative civil society action in close partnership with state governments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/RtPqxHcC3tvjWs6SwYXAEP/Mihir-Shah-to-be-president-of-Bharat-Rural-Livelihood-Founda.html|title=Mihir Shah to be president of Bharat Rural Livelihood Foundation|last=Rao|first=Kirthi V|work=livemint.com|date=11 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brlf.in/web/brlf/executive-committee|title=BRLF|work=brlf.in|accessdate=2016-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/modi-govt-will-have-to-deal-with-some-members-of-sonias-nac/|title=Modi govt will have to deal with some members of Sonia's NAC|date=25 June 2014|work=The Indian Express}}</ref> He also chaired the Government of India's Task Force on the National Social Assistance Programme which presented a landmark report in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nsap.nic.in/nsap/Report_Task_Force_Comprehensive_NSAP.pdf |title=Proposal for Comprehensive National Social Assistance Programme |website=Nsap.nic.in |accessdate=2016-01-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105210400/http://nsap.nic.in/nsap/Report_Task_Force_Comprehensive_NSAP.pdf |archivedate=5 November 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/news/implement-recommendations-of-pension-panel-news-national-obruvfhehaesi.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924215250/http://www.sify.com/news/implement-recommendations-of-pension-panel-news-national-obruvfhehaesi.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-09-24|title=Implement recommendations of pension panel|work=Sify}}</ref> Mihir Shah chaired the advisory council of the first India Rural Development Report brought out by the Ministry of Rural Development.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=99688|title=India Rural Development Report 2012/13 launched|work=pib.nic.in|accessdate=2016-01-12}}</ref>
In 1990, he co-founded Samaj Pragati Sahayog, which is today one of the largest grass-roots initiatives for water and livelihood security, working with its partners on a million acres of land across 72 of India's most backward districts. Mihir Shah has spent nearly three decades living and working in central tribal India, forging a new paradigm of inclusive and sustainable development. <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-06/a-simple-way-to-trap-india-s-monsoon-rain-can-boost-output-300|title=Here's How Farmers Plan to Make the Monsoon Last All Year |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=6 September 2016 }}</ref>
Mihir Shah, along with his colleagues penned their experiences in the book, ''India's Drylands: Tribal Societies and Development through Environmental Regeneration'', which was published by Oxford University Press in 1998.<ref>{{cite book|title=Buy India's Drylands: Tribal Societies and Development Through Environmental Degradation Book Online at Low Prices in India - India's Drylands: Tribal Societies and Development Through Environmental Degradation Reviews & Ratings|id={{ASIN|0195642317|country=in}}}}</ref> The book brings out the macro-economic significance of watershed programmes for food security and employment guarantee in India. He has also played a significant role shaping policies and in the development of tribal areas in Madhya Pradesh. He coauthored one of three chapters in Human Development Report of the state in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dif.mp.gov.in/mphdr%5CAcknowledgements_E_1995.pdf |title=The Madhya Pradesh Human Development Report |website=Dif.mp.gov.in |accessdate=2016-01-12}}</ref>
Shah is a visiting faculty member at Ashoka University, where he teaches a course on the Political Economy of India's Development 1947–2014 for the Young India Fellowship students.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youngindiafellowship.com/Profile.aspx?id=865&Role=2|title=Mihir Shah|work=youngindiafellowship.com|accessdate=2016-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.newswire.com/press-release/ashoka-university-opens-admissions-for-the-young-india|title=Ashoka University Opens Admissions for the Young India Fellowship, Class of 2016-2017|work=Newswire.com|accessdate=2016-01-12}}</ref> With effect from 1 August 2016, Shah has been appointed the first distinguished visiting professor at the Shiv Nadar University. Under Shah's leadership, the Shiv Nadar University launched an M.Sc. Program on Water Science and Policy in August 2017, which aims to be a first-of-its-kind program globally. Few programs across the world are able to incorporate the essential multi-disciplinary character of water. Fewer still deal with the urgent policy requirements of the sector. This program, with a faculty drawn from leading water experts from across the world, seeks to address both lacunae. The main aim of the program is to create a critical mass of water professionals with a historically and socially contextualised, multi-disciplinary perspective and understanding of water. These water professionals would guide development of sustainable and just 21st century policies, programmes and solutions to the growing water crisis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cpact.snu.edu.in/graduate/masters/certificate-in-water-science-policy|title=M.Sc. in Water Science and Policy {{!}} Center for Public Affairs and Critical Theory|website=cpact.snu.edu.in|access-date=2018-07-22}}</ref>
In September 2015, Shah led a seven-member committee to restructure the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), and achieve optimal development of water resources in the country <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/panel-formed-to-restructure-water-agencies/article7652816.ece|title=Panel formed to restructure water agencies|newspaper=The Hindu|date=15 September 2015|last1=Venkat|first1=Vidya}}</ref> The panel recommended disbanding the CWC and CGWB, two of the biggest water organisations, and creating a multi-disciplinary National Water Commission (NWC) in their place, and for greater involvement of social scientists, professionals from management and other specialised disciplines and reduce reliance on engineers who man the CWC. Full report of the committee is available in the Ministry of Water resources website.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://wrmin.nic.in/writereaddata/Report_on_Restructuring_CWC_CGWB.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=15 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221004425/http://wrmin.nic.in/writereaddata/Report_on_Restructuring_CWC_CGWB.pdf |archive-date=21 December 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The highly rated social science journal, Economic and Political Weekly, devoted a whole issue (24 December 2016) to a symposium on the Mihir Shah Committee Report with 12 renowned water scholars and activists commenting on it and Mihir Shah giving a response.<ref>http://www.epw.in/journal/2016/52</ref>
However, the CWC is unhappy with these recommendations and sent a strong note condemning them to the Water Resources Minister, Uma Bharati.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/cwc-staff-slam-mihir-shah-panel-report-on-water-reforms-2996427/|title=CWC staff slam Mihir Shah panel report on water reforms|date=26 August 2016}}</ref> The CWC claimed that these recommendations were anti-dam and anti-development, both of which Shah refuted claiming that on the contrary they intent to make them much stronger institutions in a new avatar which would devolve more power to states and reduce delays in techno-economic appraisals of projects. Mihir Shah notes, "it is not enough to just build dams and then forget about the trillions of litres of water stored in them. We need to ensure that this water reaches the people".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/mihir-shah-panel-water-management-cwc-3001152/|title = Interview with Mihir Shah: Must learn from success stories, break silos, take people along|date = 29 August 2016}}</ref> The prime minister's office is evidently open to the idea of forming a National Water Commission, combining CWC and CGWB <ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pmo-open-to-national-water-commission/article9022684.ece|title = PMO open to single water panel|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 24 August 2016}}</ref>
In July 2017, Shah became one of the Founding Signatories of the Geneva Actions on Water Security, which aim to secure environmentally sustainable water services for those people who are least able to afford them and ensure, as a first priority, that investments from the Global Human Water Security Fund meet the basic water needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable people for drinking, hygiene, and cooking.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://genevaactions.org/signatories|title=Founding Signatories|website=The Geneva Actions on Human Water Security|access-date=2018-07-22}}</ref>
In December 2017, Shah was appointed chair of the Task Group to draft the Karnataka State Water Policy. The group submitted its report in December 2018. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.karnataka.gov.in/jnanaayoga/Pages/TG-Karnataka-State-Water-Policy.aspx|title=TG- Karnataka State Water Policy|website=www.karnataka.gov.in|access-date=2018-07-22}}</ref>
In August 2019, the Government of Madhya Pradesh asked Shah to chair a Group of Water Experts tasked with devising a new water strategy for MP (click on image below). In November 2019, the Government of India set up a committee to draft the National Water Policy. Dr. Mihir Shah was asked to chair this committee. This is the first time since the National Water Policy was first drafted in 1987 that a person from the outside government has been asked to chair this committee (click on image below).{{fact|date=November 2019}}
==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shah, Mihir}} Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:People from Madhya Pradesh Category:St. Stephen's College, Delhi alumni Category:Delhi School of Economics alumni Category:Jawaharlal Nehru University alumni Category:Members of the Planning Commission of India Category:Gujarati people Category:People from Gujarat